25

Reece

"Breathe in... breathe out... breathe in... breathe out..." I chanted this over and over as I tried to calm myself. "It's not that bad... It's not that bad... Breathe in... Breathe out... You can do this... Don't be afraid, Reece... You can do this... There's no need to be afraid of a little bachelorette party... We're not doing anything that would get us in trouble..."

A knock sounded at my door and I about jumped out of my skin. "Reece, you ready?" My mom called from the door. I took in another deep breath, and checked myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a bright blue, thin strapped dress that flowed down to the middle of my thighs. I have on a pair of my mom's black heels to make myself seem a bit taller. I also have a pair of shorts on underneath, in case things get a bit out of hand wherever we're going.

"Yeah, I'm ready." I stepped from the room and followed mom down the stairs.

Asher met us at the foot of the stairs. He pulled me into a tight hug and took a deep breath of my scent. "No boys..." He whispered in my ear.

I chuckled softly. "No girls." I felt him starting to let go, but I pulled him closer to me. "I'll see you later tonight. Are you sure Emma will be well looked after tonight?"

"I promise that she will be just fine." He assured me. "I'll pick her up from Alpha Victoria after the guys and I finish with our little party. She'll be in her crib sleeping before you get home."

"And then we celebrate her birthday tomorrow?" I asked as I pulled away a bit.

He smiled and nodded, some of his hair falling in his face. "Yes, then we celebrate her turning one tomorrow." He then glanced over me and scowled. "Are you seriously going to wear that?"

"Too late to change!" Mom pulled me from him. "Now, block the Connection so neither of you know where the other is and let's get going!" I sighed and blocked Asher out as my mom pulled me out the door to the car where Lana, Cally, and Shelbie were waiting for us.

The girls cried out happily when they saw us and bounced in their seats. Mom got me in the passenger seat before getting in the driver's seat. "Who's ready to go?" She asked as she started the car.

"I am!" They squealed from the back. "Let's go before we're late!"

"Where are we going?" I asked as we pulled away from the pack house.

"Nope!" Mom cut Shelbie off. "She isn't to know until we get there! So, each one of you quiet down before I turn this car around!" That shut them up. The car ride to our destination was completely silent.

When we finally pulled up in front of the building, my eyes widened and I clutched onto my seat belt. "No! Nope! Nope! I am not getting out of this car! You can't make me!"

"We can and we will." Mom began poking my sides and I squeaked, trying to fight her off while trying to stay strapped in my seat. Somehow, the four of them managed to pull me out of the car, kicking and screaming, I may add, into the building.

"Reservation for five, under Merwin?" Mom said as she stepped up to the podium.

"Ah, yes. Right on time." The man smiled. "Right this way." He led us to a more secluded part of the main floor, but we had a perfect view of the stage. I stared at the monstrosity before me.

They took me to a karaoke joint...

"This'll be so much fun!" Lana gushed as she clung to her sister's arm. "Cally and I are gonna sing first!"

"Wait, we have to take turns?" I asked, my face paling.

"Well, we can do duets, or a trio." Cally shrugged. "Either way, we're all singing at least once."

"Guys..." I whined as I sunk into my seat. "You know I have terrible stage fright..."

"I'l sing with you," Shelbie put her arm around my shoulders. "We won't be alone and I'll pick an easy song for us."

I took a deep breath and sat up in my seat. "Fine..."

"Hello, ladies!" Our server greeted us. "Now, I've been informed that one of you is getting married soon. Who is my lucky bride of the night?" I raised my hand. "Your drinks are on the house for you, and you only. Now, what would you guys like to drink?"

Mom spoke for us. "These three," She pointed to Lana, Shelbie, and I. "Are to only get virgin drinks, since they're underage. But us two get the big girl drinks."

"Damn straight!" Cally laughed as Lana grumbled under her breath.

I looked over the drink choices. "Could I get a virgin strawberry margarita?"

"Certainly. And you?" Sheblie and Lana each got the same thing as me, while Cally and my mom got the alcoholic beverage.

Once our drinks got to us, Lana and Cally took a sip of their drinks then headed up to put in their song request. Soon, they were on the lit stage with a microphone in their hands. The second they started to sing TikTok by Kesha, I was stunned, my mouth flopping open. They harmonized perfectly together, their notes hitting the perfect pitch.

The second they finished, Shelbie leaped to her feet. "We're next. Let's go." I nodded and waved her ahead of me, taking a few more sips of my drink to wet my throat so it doesn't crack. I found her near the foot of the stage, smiling at Lana and Cally as they got down. They passed us their mics and I gulped.

"Alright, we have a special guest tonight!" The DJ suddenly announced. "Here we have with us Reece Merwin, soon to be Mrs. Kutcher!" I blushed hard and smacked Shelbie playfully, who simply laughed and dodged my attack. "Tonight, they will be singing a song they both know and love to no end." Are we really going to...?

"We sing the main verse together, then switch off with the other." She informed me. I nodded as Shelbie signaled for the music to start.

I grinned madly when the words flashed across the screen.

Both: Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more

Ah

Shel: Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high

Reece: Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming,
I can hear them say

Both: Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more

Reece: Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man,
Well, it surely means that I don't know

Shel: On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune,
But I hear the voices say

Both: Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more no!

Both: Carry on,
Shel: You will always remember
Both: Carry on,
Reece: Nothing equals the splendor
Shel: Now your life's no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you

Both: Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry,
Don't you cry no more,

No more!"

We finished out strong and pulled each other into a huge embrace. I can't believe we got to sing our favorite song together! And I didn't stutter or get nervous once!

I have a feeling that this is going to be an amazing night to remember.

------------

Asher

The second she closed the Connection and left, I rushed to the window to watch the car pull away. I waited a few moments after they were out of sight before I blocked my side of the Connection. I know she'll be okay, but I can't help but feel worried. I guess I'm still on edge about this whole Rogue ordeal and not being able to see her for months on end.

"She'll be fine," I looked up to see my brother standing behind me. "Let's go. You're missing out on your bachelor party." With a sigh, I followed him into the living room where Rorie, Joel, Nyl, my father and Reece's father were waiting.

"So," They looked up when Tyson and I entered the room. "What are we doing for the party?"

Nyl shifted on the couch. "Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

"This doesn't sound good..." I muttered.

"Trust us; it'll be fun." Rorie tried to assure me. I wasn't convinced. I just hope it's not something outrageous and would get me in trouble with not only Reece, but her mom as well. It still frightens me that she can tackle and pin me to the ground as if I weighed nothing.

"I'll keep you from doing something stupid." I met Bennett's gaze. He gave me a light nod. "You can trust me to keep you in line."

~~~~

"Guys..." I stared at the building before me, my stomach dropping. "I don't think we're supposed to be here..."

"Nonsense!" Bennett clapped me on the back. "We'll be perfectly fine here. I'll keep a close eye on you and make sure you don't have too much."

"But I'm not old enough!" I protested and looked back at the bar. "Reece would kill me if she knew I was here! And Stacy would help!"

Bennett scoffed. "You'll be fine! They won't kill you. I'll watch how much you drink."

"Kalvin knows we're here, anyway." I met Nyl's gaze. "He's part of Victoria's pack and is the owner of the bar. He knows we're here and has given us our own little section of the bar. So long as we don't stray too far from it, we'll be fine."

"Seems good to me," My father walked right in, the rest of us walking in behind him. We were led to the back part of the bar near the counter and claimed a large booth right next to the counter. Kalvin was our own personal server, so that made me feel a bit better

After about a half hour of us being there, I realized how big of a liar Bennett is.

"My God, he's drunk off his ass..." I made the comment to Rorie. We both looked up to see him dancing wildly to the music on the dance floor, swinging around his jean jacket, which he had removed before getting up. My eyes zeroed in on his fifth beer in his hand.

No wonder Tyson didn't want to come with us.

Rorie shook his head and moved closer to Joel. "I knew this would happen. Sip your beer, Ash. I'll watch you." I trust Rorie to watch me more so than I trust Bennett. We made Rorie, by unanimous vote, the designated driver.

"Thanks..." I sipped from my beer and watched as Bennett danced as if he was the only person in the bar. He was actually losing more beer than drinking it.

I have to give him credit, though. He's not allowing any woman to try and get it on with him. He keeps having to push each of them off him as he goes to find a new place to dance at.

My eyes suddenly widened and I felt my cheeks begin to burn. "Oh my God..." I quickly ducked my head and covered my eyes. My dad just joined him... and his shirt has suddenly gone missing... I peeked through my fingers to see it draped over his chair. "If anyone asks, I don't know him."

Rorie burst out laughing. "I've got your back."

"Your dad has always been a light weight." Nyl stated. "Being a Werewolf gives you the ability to hold your liquor because of our high metabolisms, but he's never been able to hold his liquor and gets drunk after a few drinks. No one knows why."

I just shook my head and stared at my beer. "I don't wanna know why..."

I looked up to see Nyl stand from the table. "I'll be right back." With that, he blended into the crowd.

"Guess it's just us three." I said as I took another sip.

"Actually..." My head snapped up to Rorie. "Joel wants me to share a dance with him. Will you be alright for a while?"

I gave a heavy sigh. "Yeah, I'll be fine... Go have fun. I'll watch our stuff."

"Thanks, Ash." With that, Joel and Rorie disappeared into the crowd of tightly packed bodies that moved off beat to the wild club music.

I sat back in the booth and shook my head. Everyone left me, and now I'm alone. What a way to spend my bachelor party.

I glanced up at the sound of someone sliding into the booth. A girl with black hair and mysterious green eyes stared back at me with her attempt at a seductive smirk. She's obviously drunk.

"Hey, baby..." She grinned wider. Yup. Drunk. "How's about you and I find ourselves a room and have some fun?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. "And I want to do that why?"

She reached for my hand and I pulled it back, making her pout. "Aw, don't be like that... You know you want to leave this area and get out there. I watched your friends leave you."

I snorted and took a sip of beer. "Look, I can't and I don't want to. I have a fiancee back home. We're to get married here in the next month."

She tipped her head a bit and narrowed her eyes. I know she's trying to seduce me, but in her drunken, state, she simply looks tired. "What she won't know won't kill her..." I jerked back and pulled my legs away from her when she tried to stroke them from under the table.

"Listen, you seriously need to stop!" I watched with wide eyes as she stood and sat next to me in the booth, blocking my chance of escape. I quickly linked Nyl.

"Why?" She crawled forward and I backed up into the wall, trying to put distance between us. "I know you want this... Just give in."

"Get off!" I tried to push her off me as she tried to attack me in kisses. I didn't want to hurt her, but I can't get her off!

She suddenly yelped and I was free to catch my breath from holding her back. "Oh, well, hello..."

"You need to leave." Kalvin said as he glared at her.

"Why?" She blinked innocently up at her. "I'm not hurting any..."

His glare intensified. "I watched the whole thing. He didn't want you coming on to him but you proceeded anyway. Get out of my bar, or I will call security."

She pouted, sticking her lower lip out as far as she could. "But I just wanna have fun..."

"Out." He said harshly, not once falling for her act. With a snort, she made her way out of the bar, a slight stagger in her walk.

Kalvin gave a heavy sigh and looked back to me. "Sorry about that. You alright?"

I nodded and pushed my beer away from me. "Yeah, I'm good. I kept her from getting on me. I can't believe they all left me like that and left me to deal with her."

"Well, the dads seem way too out of it, Nyl had to make a call, and your friends are somewhere deep in the sea of bodies." Kalvin sat across from me. "I'll stay here in case anything else happens."

As we waited for someone to come back, Kalvin and I made small talk about random things. I told him about how I wasn't really enjoying my bachelor party what with everyone leaving.

A loud crash made us snap our heads to the crowd. They had stopped dancing and were now forming a ring in the middle of the dance floor. I stood in the booth to get a better look.

Rage filled me at what I saw. "I'll be back."

"Asher, no!" Kalvin tried to grab me, but missed. "Asher, wait!" I shoved through the crowd and stood behind a man who was laughing at Rorie, who was holding his shirt to Joel's bleeding head.

"That's what you get!" He spat at them as he and his buddies howled with drunken laughter, unbeknownst to them that I was right behind them. "You guy're at the wrong bar! Get outta here before we beat ya out!"

"Like hell you will." I growled. The three who were tormenting Rorie and Joel spun around, sizing me up. They were about an inch shorter than me, but every bit as muscular as I am.

"What?" His alcohol scented breath washed over me. "You're defending these guys?"

I ground my teeth together. "Yes, I am. I trust these men with my lives. You mess with them, you'll have to go through me, and trust me, you do not want to cross me."

They shared a look and began laughing in my face. "You against us three? You'd never win."

"Asher," I looked over the guy's shoulder to see Rorie shaking his head. "It's not worth it. Let's just go to a different place."

"Aw," I glared at the guys again. "You gonna let him tell you what to do? I bet you guys all do each other!"

I growled low in my throat. "Watch it." I could feel Carmon surfacing, not liking how he was talking about Rorie, who had helped save our mate. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

The obvious leader snorted. "You're all talk! You won't do anything!" My hand twitched.

"Asher, don't!" Rorie hissed. "Not here! It's not worth it! Let's just go."

I sighed through my nose and shoved past the guys to get to Rorie and Joel. My eyes glanced to the side and I ducked, sensing that the guy had swung. The second I stood again, my fist connected, loving the sound of his nose breaking.

The leader of the three guys fell to the ground, clutching at his bloody nose. The bar grew silent. "Bastard!" I glanced up and dodged a blow from one of the followers. I gripped his wrist and swung, sending him into a table. It tipped and he became covered in food and alcohol.

"Asher, enough!" Rorie grabbed my arm. "That's enough! Let's go and-" He flinched and backed up, clutching his abdomen. I looked down and saw that the leader had crawled over and punched Rorie's stomach.

And he's still on the ground. I brought my foot up and nailed him right in his gut. He sputtered and fell face first on the ground.

I turned just as the third guy jumped at me. I gripped the collar of his shirt, seeing the fear in his eyes as he dangled from my grasp. With an intake of air, I slammed him into the ground, knocking the wind out of the guy.

"Asher, stand down!" I held back my flinch as I stood back up and stepped away from the three guys groaning in pain. "Let's go." I nodded as I helped Rorie get Joel out of the bar. Nyl came out a few moments later with my dad and Bennett, both of them stumbling the whole way.

We all got in the SUV, Rorie driving and Joel in the passenger seat. "Do you need to get to the hospital? I can take you there before we go back."

Joel shook his head as he held the soiled shirt to his head. "No, I'm fine. It's shallow."

"You sure?" Rorie checked to make sure we were all in buckled before he turned the key. "The hospital isn't far from here. We can-"

"Rorie, I'm fine." He assured. "We should stop worrying about me and be apologizing to Asher for making this a crappy party."

Rorie groaned. "I was so caught up in all this mess that I forgot about that... Sorry, Ash..."

I waved it off and looked out the window. "I'll admit, it was a bit crappy, but it was fun beating the shit out of those guys who messed with you. It actually helped, since I wasn't there to help you guys with the Rogues when going for the girls. I've been meaning to blow off steam, but haven't gotten the time to do so."

"You were badass!" My dad hiccuped and I rolled my eyes. "You stood your ground and delivered the finishing blows all within a minute and-"

"Dad, you're drunk." I cut him off. "Go to sleep." He swayed a bit as if trying to look at me straight.

"You go to sleep..." I scoffed at him and rested my chin on my fist. I just hope Reece is having a better time than I am.

~~~~

We dropped Bennett off at his place and made sure he got in the house alright. Once the door was closed and Rorie went to check and make sure he was in bed, we drove off to get he and Joel back to their places.

Nyl drove after we dropped them off, since he had not even a full bottle of beer. I reminded him that I had to get Emma and he made a different turn to get us to our destination. The SUV we took from the garage doesn't have a child seat, so I'll have to sit in the back and hold Emma.

After a half hour of driving, we pulled up in front of Victoria's pack house. She stood from the porch swing and met me half way. She reluctantly handed my daughter back to me.

"I only got to do this for a few years..." She said in a whisper as she gave me my daughter. "God, how I miss it so much."

I nodded slowly and ran my finger down Emma's cheek. "I'm sorry, Alpha Victoria."

She shook her head and wiped under her eye. "No, it's fine. It was nice to be able to do those things again, even if I was just babysitting. Can she come by once in a while, just so I can watch her grow?"

I nodded. "Of course. That won't be a problem. Say bye-bye, Emma."

"Vicca!" Emma reached for Victoria. She smiled and took Emma's hands. "Vicca bye-bye!"

Victoria chuckled and kissed Emma's fingers. "Bye, sweetheart. You'll visit me, right?"

Emma giggled and placed a kiss in Victoria's cheek. "Bye-bye!" We laughed at her, said our goodbyes, then went our separate ways. I buckled in the back and held Emma protectively against me as Nyl drove us back to the pack house.

When we got back, I knew that Reece wasn't home yet. I just had this feeling she hadn't returned. This gives me plenty of time to get Emma ready for bed, just like I promised Reece.

I decided to do it in the dark, since I wanted to get some sleep as well. I changed Emma's diaper and got her in her night clothes before I slowly rocked her to sleep. Once she was snoozing, I laid her in the crib, then flopped into bed, almost instantly falling asleep.

------------

Reece

I fought to keep my eyes open as we made our way back to the pack house. We dropped my drunken mom back at her place before we all headed back. It was a funny sight watching her try to get into her pajamas, which she ended up putting on backwards. It was comical watching her try to get into the room.

When she finally did get into the room and in bed, I made sure she, and my dad, were both covered and comfortable. I decided to get the coffee ready for them tomorrow so they only have to turn the machine on. After I finished, I headed back out to the car to head home. Shelbie's driving us.

At the door, we all went our separate ways to our rooms. When I got to the room, I slowly opened the door, in case Asher was asleep. I found the lights out and heard his soft snores. A small smile crept on to my lips as I carefully shut the door and turned on the soft light of the lamp.

I walked over to Emma's crib to see her already tucked into bed and fast asleep.

My eyes widened in horror when I got a closer look. Blood covered her night gown and a light trail of it was smeared on her cheek. Panic set in and I backed away from the crib, tripping over my feet.

I screamed.